-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A fledgling force of Syrian military deserters said it struck an important government security complex on the outskirts of the capital overnight , a bold strike reflecting the resolve and confidence of the regime 's opposition .

The assault came ahead of an Arab League meeting Wednesday to reaffirm a decision to suspend Syria 's membership , a move the group made over the weekend after President Bashar al-Assad 's government failed to abide by a proposal to end a brutal crackdown on protesters .

Also Wednesday , France recalled its ambassador to Syria , the French Foreign Ministry said . The move followed attacks on French missions in Syria .

The defector group , called the Free Syrian Army , said it attacked an air intelligence base in Harasta and planted `` powerful explosions inside and around the compound that shook its foundations . ''

Andrew Tabler , an expert on Syria at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy , said air intelligence has been deeply involved in the eight-month-long crackdown by the Syrian government against protesters , a grinding civil conflict that the United Nations says has left more than 3,500 people dead .

Tabler said the strike reflects the growing sophistication of the Free Syrian Army , which has brigades across the country and has been in existence since the summer .

`` It opens up a new era of the conflict , '' he said , adding that the development represents `` a bad direction '' for the country . `` Until now , most of the protests have been peaceful . ''

The Free Syrian Army said it `` carried out special operations in various areas in Damascus in order to spoil the plan that the regime is preparing against our people and our homeland . ''

The regime should `` take note '' that the deserter force `` is capable of striking them in any place and at any time we want , '' the group said .

Activists said the deserter army used rocket-propelled grenades and the intelligence complex was damaged . Activists also reported damage at the complex in Harasta , an eastern suburb of the capital , Damascus .

Free Syrian Army Lt. Abdullah al Odah , speaking to CNN in Istanbul , Turkey , called the late-night operation brief .

He said 20 defectors armed with rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov rifles participated and that it involved people from inside as well as outside the security branch . He did n't know whether security forces suffered casualties but he said no rebels were hurt .

He called air intelligence `` one of the most terrifying secret service departments in Syria '' and said such security entities will be targeted by defectors .

`` This branch is responsible for many of the crimes against Syrian people and political prisoners , '' al Odah said . `` We will announce the whole story to the world in the correct time . ''

It was one of five actions reported by the opposition force , which has recently emerged as an important factor in the opposition movement as more and more soldiers have left the Syrian army .

The opposition force also reported clashes with personnel loyal to al-Assad in several areas . They include Qaboun and Arbeen , Damascus neighborhoods , and Saqba , a suburb .

There was also fierce fighting in Douma , a city in the Syrian countryside .

`` A clash between the Free Syrian Army and Assad 's criminal gangs and his mobsters -LRB- the shabiha -RRB- in Douma , our Free Syrian military caused the Assad 's gangs a lesson that they will never forget and heavy losses at the roundabout in the Douma municipality , '' the army said . The shabiha are pro-government militias .

Tabler said the Free Syrian Army consists of soldiers who 've left their posts instead of obeying orders to fire on protesters . They 've also had active operations in and around Homs , Idlib and other areas recently , he said .

Opposition groups like the Free Syrian Army have been calling on the international community to help protect protesters . They have urged the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone , as it did in the Libyan conflict , and a naval blockade . Army leaders have said such policies could allow them to establish a base of operations to launch a campaign to bring down al-Assad 's regime .

The group surfaced when seven military officers , believed to be original members of the Free Syrian Army , announced their defection in a video posted on YouTube in July . The group 's leaders , who had been exiled to Turkey , say they 're directing a guerrilla war effort against the al-Assad regime , which acknowledges an increasing number of deadly attacks on its soldiers , including a bombing of a Syrian army tank near Daraa recently .

Col. Riad al-Assad , a 30-year veteran of the Syrian air force , claims to lead a force in Syrian cities of some 10,000 mainly low-ranking soldiers , a number impossible to verify . But the opposition fighters are believed to have little firepower -- planting bombs and carrying out hit and run attacks -- and they 're a small force in comparison with Syria 's military , which numbers in the hundreds of thousands .

The group has a Facebook page , which calls on other soldiers to join it .

The Arab League , meeting in Rabat , Morocco , said al-Assad did n't stick by his pledge to release detainees , withdraw armed elements from populated areas , and allow unfettered access to the nation by journalists and Arab League monitors .

The league has also called for unspecified sanctions against Syria and called on member states to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus , a decision that will be up to each nation .

The Syrian Arab News Agency , a state-run outlet , quoted a government source as saying that `` Syria decided not to participate '' in Rabat , where there was a ministerial meeting of the Arab League council and an Arab-Turkish cooperation meeting .

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the Arab-Turkish group that the Arab League 's move to suspend Syria 's membership was `` a responsible and well-timed step that put forth the gravity of the situation . ''

He said Syria had n't fulfilled commitments to the league and the Turks to rein in the instability . A former ally of Syria , Turkey has threatened to cut off power supplies if Syria does not change course . Turkey 's Energy Ministry said it has suspended negotiations with Syria over joint oil exploration .

`` The Syrian administration should read the message of the Arab League correctly , and by ending the violence it is inflicting on its people open up the way for the inevitable process of democratic transformation . It is not possible for any administration to win a struggle against its own people . It is not possible for an administration based on collective punishment and everyday killing people on the streets to be successful , '' Davutoglu said .

`` The Syrian administration must know that public opinion in neither the Arab world nor the world at large can bear these heart-wrenching images forever . Time is working against the Syrian regime . All of the credit and the helping hands that have been extended to the Syrian regime to date have been wasted , '' he added .

The final communique Tuesday from the Arab-Turkish forum `` emphasized the necessity of halting the bloodshed and violence against Syrian citizens , and the importance of taking urgent measures to assure the safety of civilians . The ministers stressed the importance of the stability and unity of Syria and the need for the resolution of the crisis without any foreign intervention . ''

The Arab ministers also `` expressed their appreciation to Turkey for providing temporary protection on its territories for Syrian citizens who fled to Turkey . ''

Mohammed al-Ikhsafi , Morocco 's ambassador to Syria , told CNN a demonstration occurred in front of his country 's embassy in Damascus on Wednesday .

`` There was some improper behavior in front of the embassy . The protesters threw tomatoes and rocks at the embassy and they brought down the Moroccan flag and raised the Syrian flag instead , '' al-Ikhsafi said . `` I asked them to send in a delegation so I can listen to their demands and what they were protesting against . I explained to them Morocco 's stance in the Arab League and then they left . The demonstration is over now . No one was physically attacked or injured . '' Morocco 's Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks on its embassy , the country 's official news agency reported .

The United Arab Emirates denounced an attack on its embassy . A Western diplomat in Damascus told CNN in an e-mail that windows were broken there .

`` The Syrian government will shoulder the responsibility on maintaining the security of its diplomatic mission and the respect and safety of its staff , '' said foreign affairs undersecretary Juma al-Junaibi . `` It is clear that there was negligence on the part of the Syrian government in providing the necessary measures to ensure the protection of the UAE diplomatic mission in Damascus , and the protection of its staff . ''

On Saturday , pro-government protesters attacked Arab and Turkish entities in Damascus , Aleppo and Latakia . The Turks have demanded compensation for damage to their buildings and they have evacuated families of diplomats and some nonessential personnel . On Monday , Syria 's state news agency reported that Syria 's foreign minister publicly apologized for the embassy attacks .

And Jordan 's King Abdullah said this week that a person in al-Assad 's position would step down , a statement observers interpreted as a call for the Syrian president to do just that .

For its part , the Syrian government freed 1,180 detainees Tuesday as part of the Arab League peace plan .

But opposition groups said the gesture was too little , too late .

The death toll keeps mounting , they said , with at least 81 killed in clashes Monday -- making it one of the deadliest days of the uprising .

The number of civilians killed Wednesday was 20 -- 11 in Homs , 7 in Idlib , and 1 in each Daraa and Damascus suburbs -- said the Local Coordination Committee of Syria , a coalition of activists .

CNN is not able to independently verify claims of fighting and casualties because the Syrian government has restricted international media access to the country .

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Free Syrian Army says it knows of no casualties in assault on government complex

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`` It opens up a new era of the conflict , '' a scholar says

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A Turkish diplomat says `` helping hands '' to Syria have been wasted

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More deaths are reported in Syria on Wednesday